Ocean compressed-air power



c. N. HARE. OCEAN COMPRESSED AIR POWER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 3, 1920.

1,389,445. y Patented Aug. 3o, 1921.

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C. N'. HARE.

OCEAN COMPRESSEO MR POWER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 3, 1920.

Patented Aug. 30

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`ociiN `coiiirmisSED-AIR. POWER.

i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.kk

Application ilejd November 3,71'920. Serial No. 421,569.

Ohio, (Whose temporary residence is Los kAngeles, vin the county of Los Angeles andk State of California,V have invented a new and useful Ocean ompressed-Air Power,`

of which the following isa specification. i

This invention relates to appliances for utilizing tide andV wave motion of water to operate through compressed air; and the principal object of the invention is to provide an appliance that will be effective and cicient in cheaply compressingfair; thereby producing a cheap power for commercial and pleasure purposes` In other words the appliance is so constructed that tide and wave motion ofwater is most directly appliedA to compress air and store it in a storageV tank so that afterward the compressedair maybe used to actuate an air engine that is connected by any well known means to a motor' for producing electrical energy; or the engine can `be connected directly by belt and pulleys to a line shaft for driving machinery or pleasure appliances, such as` are commonly located at.

the sea-side beaches.

vide an appliance that will be strong and durable and not'easily` injured by strong tides or heavy ground swells incident to the Y action of the sea. This feature of the invention is very important as it isV well known that appliances heretofore employedr for utilizing wave power of thev ocean have been easily wrecked or'made inoperative by the tremendous smashing and crushing power vide an appliance that will be lentirely auto-v matic after it isinstalled in operating posi- A further object of my invention is to pro-- tion in the ocean, so that it will not require an' attendant or care-taker to keep it in running order, thereby eliminating operating Expenses except those incident to Wear and ear.

A feature of the invention is simplicity of construction. y

Another kfeature is shown in the simple means employed for keeping the interior of the reciprocating inner cylinder free from water accumulation.

Another feature of the invention is shown ter way so that incoming tide or wave will wedge under the cylinder and ,force it upl ward.

i Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear fromthe accompanying drawings, the subjoined detail description and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention in one of its forms.

Figure l is a side elevation of the appliance in operation.

Fig2 is a section greatly enlarged on line m2, Fig. 1, showing a detail of` various parts.

Fig. 3 isa fragmental section on line fc3, Fig. 2 in reduced scale. Parts are omitted for the sake of K clearness. The Water is shown at the trough in solid lines, and at crestin dotted lines. l f

Fig. 4 is a kfragniental sectionfon line w,

-L Fig. 3, showing a detail ofthel water channel under the reciprocating cylinder.

Fig. 5 is anenlarged detail of parts above the base in the ylower left.hand.corner of Fig. 3. l 1

- The base 1 is firmly anchored in the ocean bed so that its top will be slightly submerged at low tide, a cage 2 has itslower end firmly secured in the base 1 and is preferably formed of T-irons 3, secured together by cross plates 4.

A platform 5 supported by piling 6 has its sea end 7 positioned yabove and secured to the cage 2.

The uprights 3 are spaced equidistant apart, are positioned an equal radial distance from `a common center; and are secured together so that they form an open octagonal case 2.

The upper ends of uprights 3 are secured to platform 5 by pla-tes and bolts well known in the art.

To platform 5 there are secured inclined supports 8 and angle irons 9 to which is sev cured the upper 'end of a stationary cylinder 10 which has its uppervendY inclosed end plate 11, and its lower end open and held central in cagel 4 by the supports 8 and angle irons 9.

A reciprocating cylinderr-12 is provided having its exterior surface arranged to form a sli'dmglitin cylinder 10.` That is to say,

:the outside diameter of cylinder 12 is slightly less than tlie'inside diameter of cylinder 10,`

so that cylinder 12 can freely move` up or down in cylinder 10. The upper end of cylinder 12 is open and its `lower end is closed by the end plate 13.

`To the lower end and outer wall of cylinder 12 there is secured a flange 14 of a `channel ring 15; andy the other flange 16 of lie such channel ring is secured to the lower inner wall of ai `uidecylinder 17 that is substantially the same length as cylin'der- 12. `,Tlie connection of the channel ring 15 tothe bottoms ofthe cylinders 12, and 17 is such as to form a water-tight connection between the parts; and the arrangement is such as to form an annular compaitment or cylindrical chamber 18 between the cylinders 12 and 17 to contain liquid for a seal between the stationary cylinder 10 and reciprocating cylinder 12 vwhen the latter is actuated;V it being understoodof course that thechamber 1.8 is always sulliciently filled with water or 'other' sealing liquid before the appliance is I"put in operation and which chamber is automatically kept in a iilled` condition due to moisture gatheringon the stationary cylin- 'fd'er by vatmospheric conditions and which gravity.

Cil

' cylinder 17 central in its ment.

moisturev iiows into the said chamber by Secured to the outer wall of cylinder 17 are the guide bars 19 which in practice are' The rollers 22 have flanges 23 that extend "slightly over the sides of the ribs 2O andy hold the cylinder 17 from rotation on its axis.

Said rollers 22 are spaced apart on each Aof the uprights v3 so that a number of them 'from the eight points of support arein cony tact with the guide bars 19 to hold the cylinder 17 central in its reciprocating movement; and consequently hold the inner or reciprocating cylinder 12 central to the axis of the stationary cylinder 10 so that cylinder 12 can move-up or down with minimized frictional contact between its outer wall `and the inner wall ofcylinder 10.

To strengthen the wall of guide cylinder 17 additionally to guide bars 19, other T- irons 24 are spaced equidistant around the cylinder 17 and are riveted thereto; and additionally binding/these T-irons 24 to the cylinder 17 are bridge bars 25 that have their ends properly secured to adjacent guide bars 19, shown in detail in Fig. 2.

The'upper end of stationary cylinder 10 is provided'with an air inlet valve 26 that opens to admit air to chamber 27 when lcylinder 12 descends, and closes as the cylinder moves in the other direction.

An exhaust valve 28 is located in pipe line 29 that connects the chamber 27V with the storage tank 30 which is preferably located on the platform 5; and it is of suiiicient size and strength to contain a great volume of compressed air.

Normally the reciprocating tank 12 and guide tank 17` are afloat, but provision isi made for limiting their downward movement by oppositely disposed portions of their bottom ends contacting with the top surface of base 1. y

Said base 1 has a central channel 31 in its top that forms a clearance between the bot- 1 toms of tanks 12, 17 whenftheyV are in their lowest position; and this channel is so positioned that the incoming water from the sea will force itself between'tank and base to lift thelatter upward with great force to compress the air in chamber 27 and drive it into the storage tank 30.

The channel 31 is slightly inclined from the sea end 32 upward toward the land end 33 so that the water will be deflected upfward'by the contour of the channel to impart itslifting power to the tanks and without diverting thegeneral direction of travel of said water. Y

Tanks 10, 12, 17 can be of any desired length best suited to2 obtain a pre-determined air pressure which ofcourse will be governed by the depth of the liquid'seal 18; as the deeper this seal is, the greater will be` 'the air pressure in chamber 27 before escaping from the seal; or thesafety valve 40 can be set so as to relieve the air pressure'from the tank before it becomes high enough to .escape by way of thefliquid seal.' The water seal 18 increases in depth as the reciprocating tanks`12, 17, are forced upward; so that at' the highest pressure of air in the tanks, the seal will be at its greatest depth, and consequently afford apgreater resistance to the escape of air from thecylinders. Accumulation `.of excessive water in tank, 12 is prevented by means ofpump 33 that is pro- `vcasing 34,' and' is provided with-a valve 36 fwithwater; 'and when valve 38 isA openy the l0 :water out'ofthe tank. f i

vided with-the usual casing 34 and valve 35. p

' reciprocating cylinder from rotation and for guiding it in its reciprocating movement..y

A- suction head 36'is slidably mounted inthe and is secured to a sucker pipe 37 secured to and discharging kat the top side of tank'10.

' The casing 34 isprovided with thefusual float valve 38 thatt closes by gravity and opens whenthe bottom of tank 12 isV Hooded reciprocating movement of Ytank 12 willI automatically actuate the pump 33 to pump Thel storage tank is providedwith the drain cock 39 so that it also can be kept free of water, see Fig. 3.

f 'Safety valves" 40, `41 are provided for tanks 10 and 30; and the tank 10 is also vided with an airtight manhole 42. f

Ifdesired anl air engine 43 can be positioned on platform 5' and' connected' directly Vprou tothe valve controlled pipey 44 to the storvtank -12 is raised and lowered.

age tank 30 so that power from the enginev or'the pipe 44 vcan'be' extended to any point -f desirable where it can be employed to acf tuateva motor, an 'K-engine; :or 'other coinpressedair appliance or appliances." Y

In practice the" apparatus l"is installed where the cylinder 12 will bejsubj ect'to wave `or tide vmotion; so that intermittently the As the cylinder'12 descendaitcauses suction iii chamber'27fthat openspvalve 26 and vadmits airto' the chamber; after which, the Yvalve closes. Then the trapped air in chamber 27 is forced Voutward by the liftingV power of the waves acting on cylinder `12; f and the compressedair lifts 'valve/28 iii line pipev 29 and fenters storage tank 30.

vpower of the waves The movement ofthe cylinder 12 is entirely automatic, upward by the lifting and downward by gravityjj t The 4size and capacity of 'the'apparatus is unlimited save by limitations incident to the 4skill and power offmen as builders, so that with this invention anv unestimated power is available. Y

1. Iny an apparatus'y of the class described, a

base, a cage secured tofsaid base, a stationary cylinder secured to saidcage, ay reciprocatingcy-linder mounted in said Acage, and' telei scoping with said stationary cylinder, and means for applying va liquid seal between the reciprocating ylinder and `both sides of the 2. In an apparatus ofthe class described,- a base, a cage having its lower end secured to said base; a stationary cylinder at the upper end of said cageg'a reciprocating cylinfder mounted in said cage and, telescopiiig withsaid stationary cylinder;means forV apply-ing a liquid seal between the reciprocating cylinder and both sides ofthe stationary cylinder; andmeansfor holding said 3. In an. apparatus of the' class described, a base having an inclined channel extending across its top, a cage having` its lower end se-l cured to said base, a stationary cylinder at the upper end of said cage, a reciprocating 'cylinder telescoping with said stationary cylinder, means connected withsaid cage for 175 guiding ysaid reciprocating cylinder; said inclined channel being adapted to direct the force of the water upward against thebottom of saidreciprocating cylinder without diverting the general direction of travel 01380 said water.

4. In an apparatus of the class described,

la base, a cage having its lower end secured to said base, a stationary cylinder at the upper end of said cage, a reciprocating cylinder mountedin said cage and telescoping with said stationary cylinder; means for applying a liquid seal between the stationary and movablewithinysaid stationary cylinder; a channel ring secured to the bottom of said reciprocating cylinder; and a guide cylinder securedv to said channel ring; said guide cylinderand channel ring beingpositioned relative to said reciprocating cylinder so that a cylindrical liquid chamber is formed etween the guide and reciprocating cyliners. i f 6. In an apparatus of the class described,. a base, a cagehaving its lower end secured to saidbase, a stationary cylinder Aarranged. at the upper end of said cage and havin@ "its axis inlalinement with the axis of-said y cage; a reciprocating cylinder in said cage n and arranged iwith its upper end telescopf' ing in the lower end of the stationary cyl- Ainder; a vguide cylinder; a connection between the bottom of said guide cylinder and s aid reciprocating cylinder; said connec 120 tionV spacing said guide and reciprocating cylinders apart so as to form a cylindrical liquid seal chamber between them; guides on said guide cylinder;-and rollers mounted Von saidA cage and adapted to contact with said guides. t

7. In an apparatus of vthe class described, a base, a cage having its lower end secured to said base, a platform connected to the upperv endof rsaid fcage, a stationary cylinder secured .to the Vplatform and `having an open lower and closed upper end `and positioned so that its axis is perpendicular Zto said platform; and a reciprocating cylinder Yin axial alinement with said stationary cylinder: said reciprocating cylinder -being movable Y'within the stationary cylinderfor the purpose of compressing air, and said base having an inclined channel .extending across its top so as to force water upwardly against said reciprocating cylinder and without diverting the general .direction of travel ofsaid water.

8. In an apparatus of the class described; a base; a cage having its lower end secured to said base; a platform connected to the upper end of said cage; a stationary cylinder secured to and positioned perpendicular to said platform, and having a lower end open and suspended in said cage, and also having a closed upper end extending above said platform; a `reciprocating cylinder Apositioned central to the axis of said cage and stationary cylinder, said reciprocating cylinder having a closed bottom end and an open top end iitted and movable in the stationary cylinder; a channel ring secured to the reciprocating cylinder; Ua guide cylinder secured to said vchannel ring; and a roller connection between said guide cylinder and said cage.

9. In an apparatus of the class described; a base; a cage having its lower end 'secured to said base; a platform connected to the upper end of said cage; a stationary cylindersecured to and positioned perpendicular to said platform and 'having its axis central to the axis of said cage; a reciprocating cylinder with its upper endtelescoping the secured to said base; a `platform connected lower endof the stationary cylinder; a channel `ring secured to the lower end of the reciprocating cylinder; a rguide cylinder secured to said channel ring said guide cylinder positioned relative to the reciprocating cylinder so that an annular cylindrical water tight chamber is formed between them, and means for guiding the guide cylinder.

10. In an apparatus of "the class described; a base;` a cage having its lower end to the upperend' of said cage; a stationary cylinder secured to and positioned perpendicular to said platform and having its axis central to the axis of said cagega reciprocating cylinder in said cage, said reciprocating cylinder telescoping the stationary cylinder; a guide cylinder; a connection between the bottoms of said guide cylinder and the reciprocating cylinder, said connection holding` said guide cylinder and reciprocating cylinders apart so as to form an annular cylindrical chamber between them adapted to contain water; guides on said guide cylinder; brackets on said cage; and

.anti-friction .rollers on vsaid brackets, said -anti-friction rollers being adapted to lcontact with said guide for the purpose speciapart Vfrom `said reciprocating cylinder vto form a chamber adapted ,tocontain aliquid and thereby -forin v.a seal between ,said cylinders.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, Va base, a cage secured to said base,

a-stationary cylindersecured to said cage,a reciprocating cylindermounted in said cage and telescoping with said stationary cylinder, and means secured .to said stationary and reciprocating cylinders .to remove water therefrom.

13. InV an yapparatus of' `the class described, a base, a cage secured to said base, a stationary cylinder Asecured to said-cage, a reciprocating cylinder mounted in said cage and telescoping vwith said )stationary cylinder, and means -secured'to said-stationary and reciprocating cylinders to remove water fromthe-bottom of saidv reciprocating cylinder and discharge "said waterat the top of-said stationary cylinder.' 4

14. In an apparatus of ythe v.class de scribed, a .base having an inclined channelv on its top surface, a cage secured to said base, air' compressing Vmeans portions of which, areA secured to and slidably contactingwith said cage, and means for-removing Water from said Vslidably contacting portions of such `air compressor means.

15. In an apparatus of the clam described, albase, a cage secured-to-said basesair compressing means portions of which are secured to and slidably contacting withy said cage, and vmeans for'removing Water from said slidably contacting portions of such air compressormeans.

16. In an apparatus of the classA described, a base, a cage secured to said base,air compressing means comprising astationaryv c vlinder secured to said cage and a reciprocating cylinder telescopingwith said stationary cylinder, `means for applying-a liquid seal between said stationary and reciprocating cylinders, and means forremoving excessive water-from said reciprocating cylinder.

17. In an apparatus ofthe class described,`

means whereby said reciprocating cylinder is` guided to enterthe stationary cylinder.

18. In an apparatus of the class described, a base, a cage having its lower end secured to said base, a stationary cylinder at the upper end of said cage, a reciprocating cylinder having an annular chamber adapted to receive the lower end of said stationary cylinder, and a liquid seal in said chamber.

19. In an apparatus of the character described, a base, a cager secured to said base, air compressing means mounted in said cage, and means mounted in said air compressing means for removing water therefrom.

20. In a device of the character described having a stationary and a reciprocating cylinder, another cylinder secured to said reciprocating cylinder so as to form an annular chamber, 'and a liquid seal in said chamber, said reciprocating cylinder being mounted so as to receive the lower end of said stationary cylinder in said chamber so that the liquid seal therein forms an antifric. tion joint and a seal between said stationary and reciprocating cylinders.

2l. In combination with a base, a cage secured to said base, of a stationary cylinder secured to said cage and having an open lower and closed upper end, a reciprocating cylinder mounted inl said cage and having an open upper and closed lower end, means secured to said reciprocating cylinder to form an annular chamber, a liquid seal in said chamber, said stationary cylinder being mounted so that its lower end is submerged in said liquid seal, a casing secured to the closed end of said reciprocating cylinder, a sucker pipe Secured to the closed end of said stationary cylinder and telescoping with said casing, and valves in said casing and sucker pipe whereby water may be withdrawn from said reciprocating cylinderl cylinder, said reciprocating cylinder being reciprocated by wave motion, means for applying a liquid seal between saidcylinders, and means actuated by said reciprocating cylinder to remove water from said reciprocating cylinder.

23. In an apparatus of the character described, a base, a cage secured to said base, a stationary cylinder secured to said cage, a reciprocating cylinder mounted in said cage and telescoping with said statitonary cylinder, said reciprocating cylinder being reciprocated by wave motion, and means actuated by said reciprocating cylinder to remove water from said reciprocating cylinder.

24. In combination with a base and a cage secured to said base, of a stationary cylinder secured to said cage, a reciprocating cylinder mounted in said cage and coperating with said stationary cylinder to compress air, .and means secured to said stationary and reciprocating cylinders and actuated by said reciprocating cylinder to remove water 'from said reciprocating cylinder.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 28th day of October, 1920.

CHARLES N. HABE.

Witness:

JAMESv R. ToWNsEND. 

